Risk

Risk is an extremely unusual work on which Megadeth deliberately pulls back its former thrash sharpness greatly and boldly draws closer to smoother melody, mid-tempo groove and pop construction. True to its name, this risk-taking change of musicality drew great debate among fans at the time. The tension of the guitar and the ironic character of the voice remain, yet the overall feel of the songs clearly differs from before. From the danceable “Crush ’Em” and the introspective “Insomnia” to the melody of “Breadline,” the songs foreground a melodic, open rock feel, while cuts like “Prince of Darkness” and “Wanderlust” show varied experiment. Though it drew strongly mixed views for the scale of the change, the challenging stance of a band deliberately leaving its own template to seek an entirely different face surely comes through. It is also known as the last work to feature Marty Friedman. Holding an experiment and appeal particular to a transitional period, not measurable by heaviness alone, it is an intriguing record.